Apparatus for laminating glass



Jan. 28, 1936. W, OWEN APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING 4GLASS Filed March 9, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jan. 28, 1936. w. OWEN 2,028,916

APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING GLASS Filed March 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR gf@ @W Jan. 28, 1936. W OWEN APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING GLASS Filed March 9, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i lli lili;

INVENTOR Patented Jian. 28, i936 APPARATUS FOR LAMINATING GLASS william owen, Pittsburgh, ra., assigner m riasburgh Plate Glass Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 9, i934', serial No. '114,778 6 Claims. (Cl. 49-81) The invention relates to apparatus for making laminated or safety glass which ordinarily comprises two sheets of glass cemented to the opposite sides of a sheet of reinforcing material, such as cellulose nitrate plastic (celluloid) or, cellulose acetate plastic. The apparatus comprises a development of thev apparatus of the patent of J. H. Sherts No.'1,905,189, and is designed particularly for laminating curved sheets preliminary Lto' a nal pressing operation in which the laminated plates are placed in an autoclave and exposed directly to the pressing uid which is applied at relatively high pressure and temperature, as set forth -in the Sherts and Hamill Patent No. 1,781,084. The invention has for its principal objects, the provision of an improved apparatus adapted to handle sheets of diierent curvature; the provision of apparatus of the character specied having improved means for supporting the sheets to be laminated and sealing them oi from contact with the pressing liquid, and one employing containers or bags for the sets of sheets which are relatively cheap and which permit the insertion and removal of the sets of sheets with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. AOneem- .bodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the vaccompanying drawings, wherein:

. Figure 1 is a vertical, somewhat diagrammatic view through the 'complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with certain of the parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. .2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the container or bag, Fig. 5 being a partial side elevation, and Fig. 6 a section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5. And Fig. 7 isa section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5. e y Referring to the drawings, I is a container or tank of considerable depth supported upon the oor 2 and extending through the yiioors 3, 4 and 5,.- This tank is filled witha pressing liquid preferably of high boiling solvent, such as diethylene glycol, and this liquid is suitably heated to a temperature somewhat above 2 00 deg. F. by means which are not shown. Extending down into-this tank is an endless conveyor made up of va pair of chains 6, 6 passing around sprockets 'l mounted above the upper end of the tank. The sprockets 1 are carried by a pair ofnshafts 8, 8, one of which is hollow and is shown in Fig. 3. 'I'he shafts ,8 vhave gears 9 lkeyed thereto, which gears are driven by means of pinions I 0 carried by a transverse shaft II. ,The shaft II is driven from the lelectric motor I2 4through the-intermediary of a worm carried by the shaft of the motor and a worm wheel in the casing I3, which is keyed to the shaft II. Secured in series along the length of the conveyor chains are a series of rubber bags or containers I 4 which carry the sets of sheets to be laminated.

5 In operation, the bags are loaded with the sets of sheets and hung upon the conveyor which is driven slowly so as to carry the bags vertically down through the bath in the tank I, and then upwardly through the bath, the conveyor prefer- 10 ably moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, so that the loaded bags are attached to the conveyor by an operator'standing upon the floor 5 to the left of the tank. The bags are removed from the conveyor by an operator 15 l standing on the floor 5 at the right of the tank,

who removes the set of sheets which are now cemented together, forming the laminated plate. The temperature and pressure to which the bags are exposed in their passage through the tank, 20

are sufficient to cement the sheets rigidly together and seal the joints at the edges of theI plates. This operation constitutes the preliminary pressing of the plates, and as heretofore explained,

these plates are then preferably given another 25I pressing in accordance with the procedure set forth in the Sherts and Hamill patent, which pressing is known as the nal pressing. In this iinal pressing, the plates are placed in an autoclave and subjected to a pressure of about lbs. 30

per square inch and to a temperature of about 240 degrees F., the temperature and pressure being varied within a considerable range depending uponthe character of the product.

'I'he containers orv bags are preferably atvand 35v areopen at both ends, which construction greatly facilitates the operation of inserting the sets .ofl sheets to be laminated and in removing the sets of sheets after .the laminating operation is completed. This type of bagis also much less ex- 40 pensivelthan one which is open only at one end and closed at the other end.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the bag orV container after it has been closed and clamped with the set of sheets therein. The set of sheets as illustrated 45 comprises the pair of glass sheets I5, I5 with the interposed sheet of cellulose plastic I6, the inner faces of the glass sheets being provided with a suitable cement, such as gelatin or the like, which is made effective to cement the ysheets together 50 upon the application of heat and pressure. The clamping means at each end of the bag preferably comprises a pair of plates I1, I'I having pivotal engagement at I8 and being pressed yieldingly towards each other by means of the springs 55 Vnecessary clamping action, since the use of the pliers or unclamping tools permits the ready opening of the clamp despite the strong springs which are. employed to'close it. In vorder to facilitate the insertion and removal of the set of plates, and in order te protect the lower edge of the bag from cutting action by the edges of the glass sheets when they are inserted into the bag and removed therefrom, a stiiening member is applied in the lower edge of the bag, such stiftening member comprising the sheet metal plate 22 having the rubber sheath 23. The plate 22 is bent to the approximate curvature of the sheets which are placed in the bag and this curvature may be readiiy changed from time to time when sheets having dierent curvature are laminated in the appara'tus.

In loading the bag, it may be suspended in a verti-eal position, and the edge of thev set of sheets supported upon the plate 22 as lthe sheets are pushed into the bag, this expedient rendering the loading of the bag easier and protecting the lower edge thereof from the cutting action of 'the edges of the glass sheets. A similar advantage also is present in removing the sheets from the bag, the plate 22 being pulled out with the set of sheets.

In order to hold the plate 22 and the set of sheets lin alignment during the loading and unloading operation, they are preferably attached together by means of a series of paper stickers 24, as illustrated in Fig. 5, such stickers being applied on each side in order tcgive greater strength.

- In order to support the bagsy and their contents ina verticalvplane 'epon the conveyor, each bag is preferably provided with a' pair of straps 25 of thin -sheet metal which are provided with slots 26 at their free ends. These straps are applied around the bags, as indicated in Figs. 3V and 6, and are hoc-ked over thebag hangers 21 which are provided with collars 28 mounted upon the pipes 29. The pipes 29 are' attached at intervals to the conveyor chains 6, 6 by means of the brackets 30. 'Ihe bags are thus suspended pivotally on the conveyor, and during the pressing operation, occupy the vertical positions indicated in Fig. 1. The mounting ofthe bags in this vertical position with respect to the tank, permits the use of a tank of minimum width, which would not be the case -if the bags were supported transversely of the tank.

As is well known in the art, it is necessary4 to exhaust the air from the rubber container or bag carrying the set of sheets to be laminated during the pressing operation, and in order to ,accomplish this function, the apparatus is provided with means whereby exhausting means is con- 1 nected to each of the bags during the period in which it is passing through the tank I. As in-v dicated in Fig. 6, one side of each yof the bags is provided with a nipple 3I, on which is swivelled a union 32. Connected tothis union is a valve .A member 33 provided with a cock having a suitable handle 34. This fixture is connected to a flexible pipe 35 whose other end is connected to the pipe 29, which acts as an exhaust header. 'I'he pipes ascesi@ 29 are connected in series by means of the hose sections 36. The system, including the pipes 29 and hose sections 36, is exhausted by means of av pipe connection 31 (Figs. 3 and 4), which is connected to one of the pipes 2S and extends through the hollow shaft 8 into the reel casing 38. 'I'his casing contains a spring reel on which the hose 31 wound, vthe end of such hose being connected to the hollow shaft of the reel, and such hollow sha-ft is connected by means of a hose 39 with a" suitable exhausting apparatus, not shown. This arrangement permits the hose'31 to be unwound from the reel as the pipe 29, to which the hose is connected,descends into the tank, and on the reverse movement of the pipe 29, the spring reel winds up the pipe again, bringing it back to the position indicated in Fig. 3, as the pipe 29 approaches the top of the tank.

It will be understood that the means for exhausting the air from the bags constitutes no as in that case, the product will not be injured,

even though there is some leakage in one of the bags. When the bag is removed from the conveyor after thepressing operation is comple'ted, the valve 33 is closed to prevent any loss of vacuum .in the system. In carrying out the operation, it is also possible to load. and unload the bags without removing them from the conveyor, the movement of the carrier at such time being stopped to permit the convenient carrying out of this operation.

What E claim is:

1. In apparatus for making laminated glass, a vertical tank containing a body of heated liquid, an endless conveyor movable verticallyinto the hath and then upward and out of the "nath, a plurality' of carriers for the sets of sheets to be iaminated, each comprising a at rubber container closed at its upper and lower sides and epen at one end pivotally and removabiy connected to the carrier so that the container and the sheets therein lie in a vertical plane during their movement to and from and through the iiquid, and clamping means for closing the open endsof the containers.

2.".[n apparatus for making laminated glass, a vertical tank containing a, body of heated liquid,- an endless conveyor movable vertically into the bath and then upward and out of the bath, a

. plurality of carriers for the sets of sheets to be ends of the containers.

3. In apparatus for making laminated glass, a vertical tank containing a body of heated liquid. an endless conveyor movable vertically into the bath and then upward and out of the bath, a

plurality of carriers for the sets of sheets to be laminated, each comprising a flat rubber container openk at one end pivotally connected to the carrier so that the container and the sheets therein lie in a vertical plane during their movement through the liquid, a plate of metal in the lower edge of each container having the approximate curvature of the sets of sheets, and clamping means for closing the open ends of the containers.

4. In apparatus for making laminated glass, a vertical tank containing a body of heated liquid, an endless conveyor movable vertically into the bath and then upward and out of the bath, a plurality of carriers for the sets of sheets to be laminated, each comprising a flat rubber container open at one end pivotally connected to the carrier so that the container and the sheets therein lie in a vertical plane during their movement through the liquid, a plate of metal sheathed with rubber fitting removably in the lower edge of each container having the approximate curvature of the sets of sheets, and clamping means for closing the open end of the container.

5. In apparatus for making laminated glass, a. vertical tank containing a body of heated liquid, an endless conveyor movable vertically into the bath and then upward and out of the bath, a

\ plurality of carriers for the sets of sheets to be laminated, connected in series along the length of the conveyor and each comprising a flat rubber container or bag open at both ends and suspended on the conveyor so that the container and the sheets therein lie in a vertical plane during their movement through the liquid, a plate of metal having a exible cover tting removably n the lower edge of each container having the approximate curvature of the sets of sheets, and clamping means for closing the open ends of the containers. 10 6. In apparatus for making laminated glass, a l vertical tank containing a body of heated liquid, an endless conveyor movable vertically into the bath and then upward and out of the bath, a plurality of carriers for the sets of sheets to be 15 laminated connected in series along the length of the conveyor and each comprising a at rubber container or bag open at both ends and suspended on the conveyor so that the container and the sheets therein lie in a vertical plane 20 during their movement to and from and through the liquid, a plate of metal having a exible cover fitting removably in the lower edge of each vcontainer, having the approximate curvature of 

